Grand tour of Japan

22 days
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Private Guided
Japan’s cultural heritage is the cornerstone of its many attractions and activities and Kyoto is a scenic hub of history and tradition. Explore the city’s cobbled streets on an evening tour for a glimpse of a Geisha or visit the home of a Women’s Association member to learn about a traditional pastime such as calligraphy. Cosmopolitan Tokyo is a complete cont...
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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

What's this trip about?

    Japan’s cultural heritage is the cornerstone of its many attractions and activities and Kyoto is a scenic hub of history and tradition. Explore the city’s cobbled streets on an evening tour for a glimpse of a Geisha or visit the home of a Women’s Association member to learn about a traditional pastime such as calligraphy. Cosmopolitan Tokyo is a complete contrast, and an early morning trip to Tsujiki, the world’s biggest fish market, can be followed by a visit to the ornate Meiji Jingu shrine. Further afield, walking and hiking opportunities abound in Japan’s countless national parks and mountain ranges, such as Hakone National Park, home to snow-capped Mount Fuji.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityTokyo
End CityTokyo

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • 50 Plus
  • Cycling & Biking

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • Cycling
  • Hiking
  • Historic Sightseeing
  • Nature
  • Trains & Rail

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Itinerary

Day 1 : International outbound flight

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Tokyo.

Day 2 : Tokyo

Arriving in Tokyo, you're met by an Audley representative and shown to the correct airport transfer to take you to your centrally located hotel. They will also help you exchange your rail pass and make any train necessary reservations. Spend the rest of the day resting and relaxing after your flight.

Day 3 : Tokyo

A day at leisure in Tokyo to explore at your own pace. Tokyo has many different districts, from upmarket Ginza to vibrant Shinjuku and the futuristic Odaiba. It also has quiet green spaces too - we suggest visiting the landscaped Hamarikyu Gardens and taking the ferry from there to the historic Asakusa district. Here you can see the great red lantern of the Senso-ji Buddhist temple.

Day 4 : Tokyo

Today we suggest getting out of the city and visiting the mountain town of Kawagoe, just a 30 minute journey from the capital. Its main street is very reminiscent of Edo (the old capital) and hence why Kawagoe is seen as "Little Edo" for its clay-walled buildings or ...

Day 5 : Tokyo

A second full day in Tokyo presents the chance to visit Tsukiji Fish Market. Set your alarm clock and get there bright and early when the market opens at around 5am to watch the famous tuna auctions. Later, after breakfast, explore the Imperial Palace Gardens or the Meiji Shrine, a large but tranquil Shinto shrine in the middle of the buzzing Harajuku district.

Day 6 : Tsumago

Today you travel by express train to Nagoya, where you pick up the bullet train taking you to Tsumago. The journey lasts around three hours. After arriving in Tsumago, a quiet postal town, check in to your traditional ryokan (inn) accommodation. You have the rest of t...

Day 7 : Takayama

Today walk part of the Nakasendo Highway between Tsumago and Magome, along the road that once connected Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. The scenery is beautiful and classic: paddy fields, cedar woods and sleepy villages.Later, travel further into the Japanese Alps to Takayama, a quaint town with an interesting merchant district and sake breweries. The journey takes around four and a half hours by train.

Day 8 : Takayama

A day at leisure in Takayama. Walk around the warren of the Sanmachi district, crammed with shops, galleries, museums, sake breweries and 17th-century kura (storehouses). Explore the shrines of Teramachi's wooded park and try local specialities such as Hida beef and Japanese pickles. You could also make the 15 minute train journey to the lesser-known but equally charming town of Furukawa.

Day 9 : Kanazawa

Take a two-hour bus transfer to Kanazawa, home to one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan, Kenroku-en. You might want to start your visit of the city by seeing one of its more contemporary sides and browsing the galleries of the excellent 21st Century Art Museum.

Day 10 : Kanazawa

This morning, head as you early as you can to Kenroku-en. The garden is best enjoyed while it's quiet, so you can wander among the ponds, streams, trees and teahouses and consider its design in peace: according to Japanese garden aesthetics, Kenroku-en contains the si...

Day 11 : Hiroshima

Take the express train to Osaka and then board the bullet train on to Hiroshima. The journey takes four and a half hours. You have the afternoon at leisure after this long day of travel, or you may wish to have a stroll down the city's leafy avenues.

Day 12 : Hiroshima

A day at leisure to explore Hiroshima in depth. Visit the evocative Peace Park, Memorial Museum and Atomic Bomb Dome. You can also see a reconstructed castle and the Shukkei-en Gardens. Meaning 'shrunken scenery', this space is a great example of how Japanese gardens ...

Day 13 : Hiroshima

Today you could take the 20 minute ferry crossing over to the scenic Miyajima Island. Its vermilion torii gate - often described as 'floating', when the gate appears to hover in the water at high tide - is one of the most iconic spots in Japan. You could also take the...

Day 14 : Kyoto

Travel east to Kyoto, the ancient capital and cultural heart of Japan. By bullet train this takes about two hours. This afternoon, we can arrange for you to take part in a traditional Japanese cultural activity with your English-speaking guide. You could learn the art of the tea ceremony, calligraphy, how to play Koto instruments, origami, or sushi-making.

Day 15 : Kyoto

Explore Kyoto at your own pace today, taking in some of the temples, shrines and shopping streets. The best way to see it is on foot, wandering the quiet gardens and grand palaces that sit side by side with more modern areas as well as narrow traditional streets of wooden buildings.

Day 16 : Kyoto

Another day at leisure in Kyoto. You may wish to visit the Golden Pavilion - if the weather's fine you'll be treated to the sight of its reflection shimmering in the pond surrounding it. In the evening, your private guide and geisha expert meets you and takes you on a...

Day 17 : Kyoto

Take a short (under 20 minute) train journey to the Fushimi-Inari Shrine this morning to see the tunnels of bright orange torii gates snaking up the hillside. Later, continue by train (about 45 minutes) to Nara to see the Todaiji Buddha and tame deer park.

Day 18 : Mount Koya

Using your separate rail pass including in your pack, you will head south to the area of Mount Koya, one of Japan's top three spiritual homes, where you will enjoy the simple life with a short stay in temple lodgings. It's beautifully quiet and quaint in the simple accommodations.

Day 19 : Hakone

Rise early to explore the town today, when its temples including Garan Temple are much quieter and more atmospheric. Take the train back down the mountain to Osaka, and then continue by train to the Hakone National Park. This latter leg takes four and a half hours. This is a long day of travel but with some great scenery en route, especially as you approach Mount Fuji National Park.

Day 20 : Hakone

Using the travel pass provided, explore Hakone National Park independently. Take in the Open Air Sculpture Museum, Owakudani Valley and ride the cable car that provides views of Fuji on a clear day. You can also visit other viewpoints to get views of Fuji, or relax in the park's hot thermal springs.

Day 21 : Tokyo

Return to Tokyo by train (which takes one and a quarter hours) for your final afternoon in Japan. Head to explore a new area of the city, or you might like to go back to an area that caught your imagination at the beginning of the trip. Alternatively, we could arrange tickets for the ever-popular Ghibli Anime Museum, an interactive exhibition celebrating Japan's leading animation studio.

Day 22 : International return flight

Take a shared airport transfer to the airport in time to catch your return flight. Your return flight will arrive the same day.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $7,995
Price per day$363
Last Updated: 1/12/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Audley Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
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Trip ID
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